D.E.L.A.W.A.R.E.

In August 2012 our dear friends the Dawsons invited us to come & spend a week w/ them at their parents' beach house in Delaware. There was lots of boat riding, beaching, swimming, late night card playing & just plain fun! (oh, and let's not forget - for me & my pregnant self - lots of naps)

 Here's we'd anchored the boat & gone adventuring on a cool sandbar!

 And one afternoon we got hit w/ a huge rain/thunderstorm so we passed the time in the garage on scooters, big wheels & - apparently - cell phones :)

Back on the boat to go check the crab pots!

Oopsie!! Watch that first step, Jared! It's a doosey! Yep, Jared took an unexpected dunk in the Atlantic while trying to get near the edge of the boat to bring up a crab pot.

Of course the boys got to drive the boat! I think this was the highlight of their week!

 Fun in the sun w/ my boys!!!

 (and yes, my pregnant self & I insisted on wearing a life vest for the sake of the wee one within)

OSV Reenactments!

August 2012 - watching the Reenactments at Old Sturbridge Village of those fighting for our freedoms long ago!

 Jonah (tall, in orange t-shirt) learning the ways of the rifle!

 Jonah & Merrik listened to these men telling stories for over 30 minutes!

 Some of the soldiers bringing their cannon back from battle.

The tree must go...

In August 2012, the town came & removed a dying tree from our yard.

We were very sad. It was a nice huge oak that lined the driveway near the road.

However, the process was fascinating for the boys to watch!

Here's a before...

 ... and after ...

 The trunk is cut all the way down now too & we've got a nice sitting stump at the end of the driveway. Makes for good fun while waiting for the school bus!

Swim!

~ July 2012 ~

 No summer is complete w/out a dip in the pool!

Thanks to our friend Jameson for having us over!

OH yeah - we have a BLOG!!

Well, in the past year & a half we've been a little busy (understatement!)

& the BLOG got put on the waaaayy back burner.

I will now attempt to show some highlights of the months that were missed.
(starting w/ the pics of our lil' Princess below)

Thanks for visiting!

Memories of "Princess"

 "Princess" memories!

 So cute!!

~ July 2012 ~

Uncle Paul is So Cool!!

... he rides a motorcycle!!

Last weekend we got to go watch "Uncle Paul" (Jared's brother) race in a motocross event. It was an endurance race on a 6-mile track, so we only got to see Paul come around a handful of times. But that was enough for the boys! They were thrilled to be able to witness Uncle Paul in all his coolness!

 Paul - in black - passes by us, heading for a big curve on lap # 2.

 

"All done!" Paul circles around off the track & comes to greet his fan club!

  

 Uncle Paul with his biggest fan ... Jonah!

Jonah really wanted to put on that helmet - but changed his mind when he saw the mud splatters all over the front & sides :)

 

Paul said a really cool thing, too. He thanked the boys for coming to watch him & said that whenever he'd come around the track & see the boys cheering for him, it made him want to do better & keep going (even though he was getting tired)! Awesome!

Karate - Yellow Belts!!

Every Thursday evening is karate night. We pack up the car, usually w/ a dinner on-the-go & drive to Grandpa Cowden's house, where we meet up w/ cousin Jake, who also attends. Then we continue to karate class. This has been the routine for the past year or so. And finally, two weeks ago the boys earned their yellow belts!!! "Excited" does not even begin to describe how they were feeling about it! Grandpa Cowden (who almost always goes w/ them to class, or even takes them by himself oftentimes) was there, of course. And Jared & I made it together. (Jared met us there after rushing from the office) Even Deb, (Jakey's mom) finagled her work schedule in order to be there to see Jake. In order to earn their yellow belt, they had to perform their memorized form (a particular series of kicks & punches), as well as demonstrate three self-defense moves.

Here Jake & Merrik practice one of the self-defense moves.

 

Merrik goes first doing his form in front of the class...

Then it's Jonah's turn to do his form for the class...

Yay, they did it!!! Mr. Russ ties on the new, shiny belts!!!

 OH! - And they also had to break a board while barefoot & doing a side kick! So here they've got their new belts and their broken boards!!! "Congratulations, boys!!!" So proud!

"Cousins! ...hie-yaw!!!

My Jared is One "Tough Mudder"!!

On Saturday, May 5th at Mount Snow, Vermont, amid many cheers & high-5's, Jared earned his coveted Orange TM Headband!!!

Scroll down to see how!

The Tough Mudder website claims that this may very well be "the toughest event on the planet!"

"Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. With the most innovative courses, half a million inspiring participants, and more than $3 million raised for the Wounded Warrior Project, Tough Mudder is the premier adventure challenge series in the world."

And here is the Tough Mudder map. Over the course of 10 miles running to & fro over Mount Snow, there were 26 obstacles. In 5.5 hours, Jared's team of 4 endured cold, mud, smoke, endurance, frigid waters, mud, fire, snow, ice, ropes, electricity & more mud to complete the course & claim their prize!

After registration. They write your race # on your forehead so they can "identify the body". And Jonah couldn't be overlooked, so he got a # too.

 Jared, Brian, Demery (Brian's sis) & Jess (Demery's friend). They're all smiles now, but just wait :)

And we, the family, are here for his support! "Go Dad!!!!"

And to start it off, you had to scale this 8-foot wall just to get to the starting line! Jared (center & at top of wall in grey shirt, black shorts) makes it look easy.

They corralled all the runners (this wave of 500, anyway. through out the day, I believe some 7-8,000 runners took to the course). Here they gave them a powerful pep talk & sent them off.

This was the first obstacle we saw, "Arctic Enema". They're prepping here by filling these huge tanks w/ water & ice!

Jared & Brian climb the stairs & get ready to get wet ... and very cold!

 Jared's look say it all. "Yeah, we're doin' the Tough Mudder! Bring it!"

One of our views & we made our way to meet the team at various obstacles.

Here comes my muddy Hon! From one obstacle to the next! At least he's smiling.

This was called the "Electric Eel". Hanging above them about 6 inches above the water are wires that spit out a current at sporadic intervals while you're mushing thru the muddy water. Great fun.

At the top of "Cliff Hanger". That is one steep hill! Jared gets a handshake & a smile from Jonah! What was really cool was that Jared said it gave him renewed energy & endurance to go on whenever he'd see the boys & me waiting to greet him at different obstacles. I'm so glad we all got to go & experience this with him!! I was so proud watching him, too!!

Jared's on the farthest wire, in all grey/black, kinda off center, to the right. (right in front of the random person standing/walking thru the woods w/ a blue bag) This is called, "Dong Dangler". He made it all the way across this freezing cold lake suspended on a 25-yard (?) rope without falling off! Most people didn't make it 1/2 way without losing their grip on the rope & either swimming thru the arctic waters or shimmying across the rope w/ just their hands on.

 "We just survived the Dong Dangler!!! Fist bump!"

 Jared & Brian - BFF's :)

 At the top of "Everest" - a 15-foot (?) half-pipe that you had to run/climb your way up. After these two made it up, they stayed at the top to help others make it there, too.

 And - right before the finish line - you've got to endure "Electroshock Therapy". Yes, those are live wires, although I don't think that every single one shocks you. But still. No thanks for me. It was amazing watching Jared compete!!!!

 
At the finish line, Jared's looking back to find Brian.

 "Yay, we're done!! I mean, yay, we did it!!"